FMCG Product Innovator & R&D Scientist (Hybrid)

Placements24; Paarl; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund contributions

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 presents an opportunity for a Product Development Scientist in Paarl, Western Cape. You will lead development from concept to commercialization in the FMCG sector, focusing on formulations, sensory testing, and scale-up.

The role requires a strong background in food science or related fields, with 4–6 years in FMCG product development and the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams in a hybrid setup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Food Technology, or a related field.
• PhD is an advantage.
• 4–6 years of hands-on product development experience in FMCG.
• Proven expertise in formulation and scale-up.
• Strong understanding of food chemistry, microbiology, and processing technologies.
• Experience with sensory analysis and consumer research.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new FMCG products from concept to commercialization.
• Formulate and test recipes, optimizing taste, texture, appearance, and nutrition.
• Conduct shelf-life and stability studies.
• Perform sensory evaluations and gather consumer feedback.
• Collaborate with marketing, procurement, and manufacturing to launch products.
• Troubleshoot issues during development and scale-up.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations and quality standards.
• Research and evaluate new ingredients and processing techniques.
• Prepare technical specifications and process descriptions.
• Stay updated on scientific advances and industry innovations.

Skills

Product development

Formulation

Sensory evaluation

Scale-up

Food chemistry

Analytical techniques

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Food Science/ Chemistry

PhD (advantage)

Tools

Analytical instrumentation

Laboratory equipment

Job description

Placements24 presents an opportunity for a Product Development Scientist in Paarl, Western Cape. You will lead development from concept to commercialization in the FMCG sector, focusing on formulations, sensory testing, and scale-up.

The role requires a strong background in food science or related fields, with 4–6 years in FMCG product development and the ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams in a hybrid setup.